Compliments of the Season

Thomas Nast worked at the three most important illustrated newspapers in New York City. Nast worked for "Harper's Weekly" during the Civil War and received recognition from President Abraham Lincoln as his "best recruiting sergeant" for the Union. Through thousands of images drawn by Thomas Nast, he built readers' visual literacy. After just four years working full time at "Harper's Weekly", Thomas Nast took a break during the summer of 1867-1897 to work on his idea for "The Grand Caricaturama", 33 large paintings presented with music and narration telling the history of the United States from Nast's perspective in live theater. Today only 8 of those paintings are known to exist.

Thomas Nast (1840-1902) worked at one of the most important illustrated newspapers in the United States during the 19th century. Nast worked for "Harper's Weekly" during the American Civil War (1861-1865). President Abraham Lincoln called Nast his "best recruiting sergeant" for the Union because of the power of his illustrations. Nast built readers' visual literacy through thousands of published images. Nast's political cartoons addressed current events in the United States during his lifetime including: slavery, political corruption, race, war, and other themes. This Resource Kit examines a selection of Nast's political cartoons from the Civil War and asks the following questions: How does an artist's values impact their work? Why does the intended audience matter? How do political cartoons communicate current events?

Stephen Grover Cleveland (1837-1908) was the 22nd and 24th President of the United States. He was the only President to serve non-consecutive terms (1885–1889 and 1893–1897), up until this year when President Donald Trump won the office for a second time. In 1884 Nast, along with Harper’s Weekly editor George Curtis, broke with the Republican Party to support the Democratic Candidate Grover Cleveland. This Resource Kit explores Nast's illustrations in support of the first two-term President serving non-consecutive terms, his switch from a Republican to a Democrat, and Nast's waning influence as a political cartoonist.